US20050013736A1 - Operator interface module segmented by function in an automatic clinical analyzer - Google Patents
Operator interface module segmented by function in an automatic clinical analyzer Download PDFInfo
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- US20050013736A1 US20050013736A1 US10/742,299 US74229903A US2005013736A1 US 20050013736 A1 US20050013736 A1 US 20050013736A1 US 74229903 A US74229903 A US 74229903A US 2005013736 A1 US2005013736 A1 US 2005013736A1
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- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- G01N35/00—Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups G01N1/00 - G01N33/00; Handling materials therefor
- G01N35/00584—Control arrangements for automatic analysers
- G01N35/0092—Scheduling
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- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- G01N35/00—Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups G01N1/00 - G01N33/00; Handling materials therefor
- G01N35/02—Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups G01N1/00 - G01N33/00; Handling materials therefor using a plurality of sample containers moved by a conveyor system past one or more treatment or analysis stations
- G01N35/025—Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups G01N1/00 - G01N33/00; Handling materials therefor using a plurality of sample containers moved by a conveyor system past one or more treatment or analysis stations having a carousel or turntable for reaction cells or cuvettes
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- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- G01N35/00—Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups G01N1/00 - G01N33/00; Handling materials therefor
- G01N35/00584—Control arrangements for automatic analysers
- G01N35/00722—Communications; Identification
- G01N2035/00891—Displaying information to the operator
- G01N2035/009—Displaying information to the operator alarms, e.g. audible
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- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- G01N35/00—Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups G01N1/00 - G01N33/00; Handling materials therefor
- G01N35/00584—Control arrangements for automatic analysers
- G01N35/00722—Communications; Identification
- G01N2035/00891—Displaying information to the operator
- G01N2035/0091—GUI [graphical user interfaces]
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- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T436/00—Chemistry: analytical and immunological testing
- Y10T436/11—Automated chemical analysis
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T436/00—Chemistry: analytical and immunological testing
- Y10T436/11—Automated chemical analysis
- Y10T436/113332—Automated chemical analysis with conveyance of sample along a test line in a container or rack
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- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T436/00—Chemistry: analytical and immunological testing
- Y10T436/11—Automated chemical analysis
- Y10T436/115831—Condition or time responsive
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a method for processing a patient's biological fluids in an automated clinical analyzer.
- the present invention provides a method for displaying the status and controlling the operation of such an analyzer on an operator interface in a manner that minimizes effort required by the operator to access pertinent data.
- Automated clinical analyzers are known to improve clinical analysis by providing results more rapidly while minimizing operator or technician error. Due to increasing demands on clinical laboratories regarding assay throughput, and the efficiency of handling patient samples and reagents An important factor is displaying the status and controlling the operation of such an analyzer in a “user friendly” manner that minimizes the effort required by the operator to access pertinent data.
- U.S. Pat. No. 6,544,476 discloses a display screen having an area for indicating operation function selection buttons corresponding to respective groups of operation functions divided into a plurality of groups and an area for indicating an operation function screen corresponding to selected operation function selection buttons.
- the controller controls one of the operation function selection buttons, which corresponds to the plurality of groups allowed to access based on the level thus determined, to be accessible and also controls remaining one of the operation function selection buttons, which corresponds to remaining one of the plurality of groups having not been allowed to access, not to be accessible.
- U.S. Pat. No. 6,275,150 discloses a user interface for a biomedical analyzer system that inputs work orders, including sample and test identifications, and transmits instructions to the instrument.
- the instrument performs the requested tests and sends the results to the computer, where they are stored.
- the test results are compared to exception review criteria to identify exception test results for operator review. Exception test results are also indicated by a graphic icon on the display of the computer.
- the exception test results may be compared by an operator to validation data gathered from the instrument and stored in the computer. The operator may then select a disposition for the exception test results.
- alarm conditions are communicated by the instrument to the computer.
- the user interface then communicates the alarm conditions to an operator by using a graphic image of the instrument and an affected part. Additional information may then be provided to the operator by selecting the affected component.
- U.S. Pat. No. 6,080,364 discloses an automatic analyzer in which a plurality of analytical units are arranged along a transfer line.
- This analyzer has a display request means for an inspection screen of calibration or accuracy management, a screen display for displaying an inspection screen having a plurality of classification captions installed in correspondence to classification of a plurality of states relating to calibration or accuracy management and an instruction button for instructing display of detailed information corresponding to each classification caption in association with the display request, and a controller for displaying, when an instruction is outputted by the instruction button, the analysis item name of the corresponding state and the analytical unit name for executing calibration or accuracy management of the corresponding analysis item on the inspection screen.
- U.S. Pat. No. 5,885,530 discloses an automated immunoassay system which can perform testing on a broad range of analytes while selecting from among a range of different types of immunoassays using a variety of different types of reagents and immunoassay beads stored on-board the instrument.
- User interface is reduced as tests are performed automatically from computer input including the ability to order, perform and re-assay tests reflexively based on test results without operator intervention.
- U.S. Pat. No. 5,316,726 discloses a computer controlled analyzer and display.
- the display provides a real-time presentation of all operations being performed within the analyzer.
- a large number of samples can be loaded into the analyzer, and the order of testing the samples can be rearranged according to a priority determined by the operator at any time.
- a variety of immunoassays can be performed on each sample and several different immunoassays can be performed on any one sample.
- Information related to the type of immunoassays being performed on particular samples is collected by a bar code reader and this information is conveyed to the computer for presentation on the display.
- Japanese Patent Application 1-250758 proposes that an operator is allowed to use only the particular range of an analyzer's function corresponding to a pre-determined level.
- the operation functions of the automatic analyzer are classified into an analysis parameter, a system parameter, registration and maintenance, and the levels of the operators are set in accordance with identification codes of the respective operators in advance.
- identification codes of the respective operators in advance.
- the levels of the operator are set as three levels of upper, middle and lower levels in a manner that the operator of the upper level is allowed to operate all the operations, the operator of the middle level is allowed to operate a part of the operations, and the operator of the lower level is allowed to operate only a part of the analysis parameter and the maintenance.
- the present invention provides a method to display the status of a clinical analyzer on an operator interface in a manner that minimizes the effort required by the operator to access pertinent data by segmenting such data by function. This is achieved by providing a visual user interface device with a viewing screen that is adapted to display information pertaining to the control and operating status of the analyzer, segmenting the viewing screen so that routine operational information used in routine operation of the analyzer is displayed in a first segment of the viewing screen, and segmenting the viewing screen so that non-routine operational information that is used in a detailed examination of the operation of analyzer is displayed in a second segment of the viewing screen.
- FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of an automated analyzer in which the present invention may be employed to advantage
- FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a reagent container useful in the analyzer of FIG. 1 ;
- FIG. 3A is a perspective view of a calibration solution vial container useful in the analyzer of FIG. 1 ;
- FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an aliquot vessel array storage and handling unit useful in the analyzer of FIG. 1 ;
- FIG. 4A is a sampling probe useful in the analyzer of FIG. 1 ;
- FIG. 4B is a wash station useful in the analyzer of FIG. 1 ;
- FIG. 5 is an aliquot vessel array useful in the analyzer of FIG. 1 ;
- FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a container shuttle useful in the analyzer of FIG. 1 ;
- FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a container tray shuttle useful in the analyzer of FIG. 1 ;
- FIG. 9 is a viewing screen exemplary of the present invention.
- FIG. 9A illustrates access to display screens exemplary of the present invention
- FIGS. 10-13 are exemplary of routine operational information that is accessible from the screen of FIG. 9 ;
- FIG. 14 illustrates how non-routine operational information is accessible from the screen of FIG. 9 ;
- FIGS. 15-18 illustrates non-routine operational information accessible from the screen of FIG. 9 ;
- FIG. 19A illustrates an Instrument Status Message exemplary of the present invention
- FIG. 19B illustrates an illustration of instrument maintenance message exemplary of the present invention
- FIG. 20 illustrates trouble-solving information accessible from the screen of FIG. 19 ;
- FIG. 23 illustrates a personalized display screen exemplary of the present invention.
- FIG. 1 taken with FIG. 2 , shows schematically the elements of an automatic chemical analyzer 10 in which the present invention may be advantageously practiced, analyzer 10 comprising a reaction carousel 12 supporting an outer cuvette carousel 14 having cuvette ports 20 formed therein and an inner cuvette carousel 16 having vessel ports 22 formed therein, the outer cuvette carousel 14 and inner cuvette carousel 16 being separated by a open groove 18 .
- Cuvette ports 20 are adapted to receive a plurality of reaction cuvettes 24 like disclosed in co-pending application Ser. No.
- reaction carousel 12 is rotatable using stepwise movements in a constant direction, the stepwise movements being separated by a constant dwell time during which carousel 12 is maintained stationary and computer controlled assay operational devices 13 , such as sensors, reagent add stations, mixing stations and the like, operate as needed on an assay mixture contained within cuvettes 24 and reaction vessels 25 .
- Analyzer 10 is controlled by software executed by the computer 15 based on computer programs written in a machine language like that used on the Dimension® clinical chemistry analyzer sold by Dade Behring Inc, of Deerfield, Ill., and widely used by those skilled in the art of computer-based electromechanical control programming.
- Computer 15 also executes application software programs for performing assays conducted by various analyzing means 17 within analyzer 10 .
- Analyzing means 17 may comprise analytical module 17 A adapted to perform photometric assays, comprise analytical module 17 B adapted to perform nephelometric assays, and comprise analytical module 17 C adapted to perform luminescence assays, like disclosed in co-pending application Ser. No. 60/488,336 (Attorney Docket No.
- Computer 15 is interlinked using known interface software applications with a Laboratory Information System (LIS) and/or a Hospital Information System (HIS) so that information concerning patients, patient assay requests, assay results, analyzer status, and the like, may be immediately accessible as needed by laboratory personnel.
- Computer 15 includes an operator interface module 15 M typically comprising a keyboard 15 K and monitor or a flat-panel touch viewing screen 15 S or the like, on which information about the operational status of analyzer 10 as described herein may be called up and displayed or which may be automatically displayed like in the instance of a malfunction within analyzer 10 .
- Temperature-controlled reagent storage areas 26 , 27 and 28 store a plurality of multi-compartment elongate reagent containers 30 like that illustrated in FIG. 3A and containing reagents necessary to perform a given assay within a number of wells 32 , each well containing as much as 3.4 mL of a given reagent.
- Container 30 has features to enable analyzer 10 to automatically determine whether a reagent container 30 is new and unused or whether the reagent container 30 has been previously used and possibly become contaminated whenever a reagent container 30 is initially placed onto an analyzer.
- 3B shows a calibration vial container 30 A containing calibration solutions of known analyte concentrations in calibration solution vials 30 V, the solutions being to conduct well-know calibration and quality control procedures within analyzer 10 .
- Calibration vial containers 30 A are also inventoried upon analyzer 10 within reagent storage areas 26 , 27 and 28 .
- a bi-directional incoming and outgoing sample tube transport system 36 having input lane 34 A and output lane 34 B transports incoming individual sample tubes 40 containing liquid specimens to be tested and mounted in sample tube racks 42 into the sampling range of a liquid sampling probe 44 , like disclosed in co-pending application Ser. No. 10/623,311 assigned to the assignee of the present invention.
- Liquid specimens contained in sample tubes 40 are identified by reading bar coded indicia placed thereon using a conventional bar code reader to determine, among other items, a patient's identity, tests to be performed, if a sample aliquot is to be retained within analyzer 10 and if so, for what period of time. It is also common practice to place bar coded indicia on sample tube racks 42 and employ a large number of bar code readers installed throughout analyzer 10 to ascertain, control and track the location of sample tubes 40 and sample tube racks 42 .
- Sampling probe 44 comprises a translatable liquid sampling probe 48 so that movement of sampling arm 44 describes an arc intersecting the sample tube transport system 36 and an aliquot vessel array transport system 50 , as seen in FIG. 4 .
- Sampling probe 44 as seen in FIG. 4A , comprises a Horizontal Drive 44 H, a Vertical Drive 44 V, a Wash Module 44 W, a Pump Module 44 P and a Cleansing Module 44 C having the primary functions described in Table 1 below, so that sampling probe 44 is operable to aspirate liquid sample from sample tubes 40 and to dispense an aliquot sample into one or more of a plurality of vessels 52 V in aliquot vessel array 52 , as seen in FIG.
- Environmental chamber 38 is operated by computer 15 to ensure that the same patient specimen is tested a second time following a previous first testing. For reasons of processing efficiency, it is sometimes desirable to automatically reprocess a sample aliquot that has been retained in within environmental chamber 38 for a predetermined period of time. Incoming samples to be tested may be identified by bar coded indicia placed on sample tubes 40 to determine if a sample aliquot is to be retained, and if so, for what period of time. In addition to a first sample aliquot taken from a patient's specimen to be tested, a second sample aliquot is also taken from the same patient's specimen and is retained in within environmental chamber 38 .
- the second sample aliquot may be quickly removed from within environmental chamber 38 and tested on analyzer 10 , thereby saving time as well as providing for the exact same patient specimen to be tested.
- a conventional ion selective electron measuring station 47 equipped with a conventional ion selective electron probe 49 may be conveniently located proximate aliquot vessel array transport system 50 in order to conduct ionic analyte measurements on sample aliquots aspirated from vessels 52 V by probe 49 and dispensed into the ion selective electron measuring station 47 .
- Aliquot vessel array transport system 50 comprises an aliquot vessel array storage and dispense module 56 and a number of linear drive motors 58 adapted to bi-directionally translate aliquot vessel arrays 52 within a number of aliquot vessel array tracks 57 below a sample aspiration and dispense arm 54 located proximate reaction carousel 12 .
- Sample aspiration and dispense arm 54 is controlled by computer 15 and is adapted to aspirate a controlled amount of sample from individual vessels 52 V positioned at a sampling location within a track 57 using a conventional liquid probe 54 P and then liquid probe 54 P is shuttled to a dispensing location where an appropriate amount of aspirated sample is dispensed into one or more cuvettes 24 in cuvette ports 20 for testing by analyzer 10 for one or more analytes.
- conventional transfer means move aliquot vessel arrays 52 as required between aliquot vessel array transport system 50 , environmental chamber 38 and a disposal area, not shown.
- a number of reagent aspiration and dispense arms 60 , 61 and 62 each comprising at least one conventional liquid reagent probe, 60 P, 61 P and 62 P, respectively, are independently mounted and translatable between reagent storage areas 26 , 27 and 28 , respectively.
- Probes 60 P, 61 P and 62 P are conventional mechanisms for aspirating reagents required to conduct specified assays at a reagenting location from wells 32 in an appropriate reagent container 30 , the probes 60 P, 61 P and 62 P subsequently being shuttled to a reagent dispensing location where reagent(s) are dispensed into reaction cuvettes 24 .
- Probes 60 P, 61 P and 62 P are also used for aspirating calibration and control solutions from calibration solution vials 30 V as required to conduct calibration and control procedures necessary to ensure proper operation of analyzer 10 , the probes 60 P, 61 P and 62 P subsequently being shuttled to a calibration solution dispensing location where solutions(s) are dispensed into reaction cuvettes 24 and analyzed by analyzing means 17 .
- Reaction cuvette load station 61 and reaction vessel load station 63 are respectively positioned proximate outer cuvette carousel 14 and inner vessel carousel 16 and are adapted to load reaction cuvettes 24 into cuvette ports 20 sideways as described later and reaction vessels 25 into vessel ports 22 using for example a translatable robotic arm 65 .
- used cuvettes 24 in which an assay has been finally conducted are washed and dried in a wash station 67 like disclosed in co-pending application Ser. No. 10/623,360 assigned to the assignee of the present invention.
- Computer 15 operates wash station 67 so that a used reaction cuvette 24 is cleansed so that whenever certain “exceptional” assays are scheduled to be next performed in a reaction cuvette 24 , the used reaction cuvette 24 is automatically subjected to an additional cleansing or cleaning operation, the terms “cleaning and cleansing” including washing, rinsing, and drying.
- This selective cleaning of a used reaction cuvette 24 is partially achieved by providing a number of washing and drying manifolds 67 M, like seen in FIG. 4B , each of which is independently selectively activated to perform or not perform a cleansing operation, depending upon the identity of the assay scheduled to be next performed in that reaction cuvette 24 .
- wash station 67 is operated by computer 15 so that biohazard waste residues from biochemical reactions in a cuvette 24 are segregated from chemical waste residues from chemical reactions in a cuvette 24 and are safely disposed into secure biochemical waste storage 67 B and chemical waste storage 67 C by means of vacuum lines 67 V.
- Computer 15 is programmed to determine not to reuse a cleaned used reaction cuvette 24 whenever an assay scheduled to be next performed in a cleaned used reaction cuvette 24 might be adversely affected by any contaminants remaining from the assay previously performed in a cleaned used reaction cuvette 24 .
- computer 15 may operate analyzer 10 so that whenever certain assays are scheduled to be next performed in a cleaned used reaction cuvette 24 , the cleaned used reaction cuvette 24 is automatically removed, discarded, and replaced with a fresh, unused reaction cuvette 24 .
- Computer 15 may optionally control analyzer 10 so that whenever an assay is scheduled to be next performed in a cleaned used reaction cuvette 24 , and the same assay was previously performed in the cleaned used reaction cuvette 24 and the assay results were outside normal test ranges, the cleaned used reaction cuvette 24 would be automatically removed, discarded, and replaced with a fresh, unused reaction cuvette 24 .
- Cuvette unload station 59 is adapted to remove unusable reaction cuvettes 24 from cuvette ports 20 again using a translatable robotic arm 65 like seen on load stations 61 and 63 .
- analyzer 10 includes a single, bi-directional linear container shuttle 72 illustrated in FIG. 6 and adapted to remove reagent containers 30 and calibration vial containers 30 A from a container loading tray 29 having a motorized rake 73 that automatically locates containers 30 and 30 A at a loading position beneath container shuttle 72 .
- Shuttle 72 is further adapted to dispose a reagent container 30 or a calibration vial container 30 A into slots in at least one slotted reagent container tray 27 T or 28 T within reagent storage areas 27 or 28 , respectively.
- shuttle 72 is even further adapted to remove reagent containers 30 or calibration vial containers 30 A from reagent container trays 27 T and 28 T and to dispose such reagent containers 30 or calibration vial containers 30 A into either of two concentric reagent carousels 26 A and 26 B within reagent storage area 26 .
- Shuttle 72 is also adapted to move reagent containers 30 and calibration vial containers 30 A between the two concentric reagent carousels 26 A and 26 B.
- reagent carousel 26 A may be rotated in both directions so as to place any particular one of the reagent containers 30 or calibration vial containers 30 A disposed thereon beneath reagent aspiration arm 60 .
- reagent carousel 26 B may also contain reagent containers 30 and calibration vial containers 30 A accessible by reagent aspiration arms 60 and 62
- carousel 26 B is preferably designated only for storing excess inventory of reagent containers 30 and calibration vial containers 30 A.
- Any one of the reagent containers 30 disposed in reagent container trays 27 T and 28 T may be located at a loading position beneath container shuttle 72 or at a reagent aspiration location beneath aspiration and dispensing arms 61 and 62 , respectively, by reagent container shuttles 27 S and 28 S within reagent storage areas 27 and 28 , respectively.
- Reagent aspiration arms 60 and 62 are shown in dashed lines to indicate that they are positioned above the surfaces of reagent containers 30 inventoried in carousel 26 B, and reagent container trays 27 T and 28 T, respectively.
- Reaction cuvettes 24 supported in outer cuvette carousel 14 are also both shown in dashed lines to indicate that they are positioned above the surfaces of reagent containers 30 .
- FIG. 6 also shows a reagent preparation station 74 connected to reagent operation carousel 26 B by means of a first reagent container transfer device 75 .
- Reagent preparation station 74 is adapted to perform a number of reagent preparation operations like chemical additions, re-mixing, hydrating dry reagent powders and the like as may be required.
- a motorized belt shuttle 78 connected to reagent operation carousel 26 B by means of a second reagent container transfer device 77 , thereby enabling an exchange of reagent containers 30 between similarly equipped analyzers.
- a container shuttle system like seen in FIG. 6 is described in co-pending U.S. patent Ser. No. 10/623,310, assigned to the assignee of the present invention.
- Container shuttle seen in FIG. 7 is adapted to automatically compensate for unknown changes in length of a drive belt 72 B driven by motor 72 M by an automated tensioner 72 T, disclosed in co-pending application Ser. No. 10/623,311 and assigned to the assignee of the present invention, and adapted to maintain a constant tension on the drive belt 72 B regardless of rapid changes in its driving direction so that reagent containers 30 and calibration vial containers 30 A attached thereto by clamps 72 C may be accurately positioned along the direction of drive belt 72 B, as indicated by the double-ended arrow, and disposed at their intended location beneath reagent container shuttle 72 or within storage areas 26 , 27 or 28 as drive belt 72 B wears.
- Reagent container shuttles 27 S and 28 S are similar in design to one another, and as seen in FIG.
- reagent container tray 28 T secured to one leg of a drive belt 28 B so that tray 28 T is free to be driven to and from along the direction of drive belt 28 B, as indicated by the double-ended arrow. Consequently, reagent containers 30 within slots in tray 28 T may be automatically positioned at a pick-up location beneath container shuttle 72 .
- analyzer 10 under the control of computer 15 include the ability to automatically to move reagent containers 30 and calibration vial containers 30 A between container loading tray 29 , reagent container trays 27 T and 28 T, and reagent carousels 26 A and 26 B.
- analyzer 10 is further capable of moving reagent containers 30 and calibration vial containers in reagent container trays 27 T and 28 T to appropriate aspiration locations by probes 61 P and 62 P, respectively, (or to a loading location beneath shuttle 72 ) so that in combination with the capability of reagent carousels 26 A and 26 B to place any reagent container 30 or calibration vial container 30 A beneath reagent aspiration arms 60 P, 61 P and 62 P.
- Analyzer 10 thus includes an automated random access reagent and calibration solution re-supply system with the flexibility to position a large number of different reagents and calibration solutions at different aspiration locations.
- a key factor in maintaining an optimum assay throughput within analyzer 10 is the ability to timely re-supply reagent containers 30 into reagent storage areas 26 , 27 and 28 before the reagents contained therein become exhausted. Similarly important is the ability to timely re-supply calibration and Quality Control solutions in vial containers 30 A before the solutions contained therein become exhausted so that calibration and control procedures may be conducted as required, whether this be based on the basis of time between calibrations or number of assays performed since an immediately previous calibration or number of assay results outside normal ranges, or changes in the performance of the analyzer. This challenge may be met by timely equipping analyzer 10 with additional requisite calibration and Quality Control solutions used in calibration and control procedures and called standard chemical solutions herein for convenience, before they become exhausted, thereby maintaining assay throughput of analyzer 10 uninterrupted.
- computer 15 is programmed to track reagent and assay chemical solution consumption along with time, and date of consumption of all reagents consumed out of each reagent container 30 and assay chemical solutions consumed out of each vial container 30 A on a per reagent container, per calibration vial container, per Quality Control container, per assay, and per calibration basis, for specifically defined time periods.
- computer 15 is programmed to make an inventory demand analysis for specifically defined time periods so as to determine future assay inventory demands for the specifically defined time periods and display to an operator on an operator interface module 15 D, a list of all of the reagent containers 30 and calibration/Quality Control vial containers 30 A that will be needed in the future in a timely manner prior to the actual need of said reagent container 30 and calibration/Quality Control vial containers 30 A.
- an analyzer like analyzer 10 is not limited to the three assays in Table 1, and instead is typically adapted to perform as many as 180-200 different assays, with the reagents required to perform about 50% of these “on-board assays” always on-board analyzer 10 in storage areas 26 , 27 and 28 .
- the reagent containers 30 containing reagents required to perform all “on-board assays” would be held in storage area 26 while the reagent containers 30 containing reagents required to perform less frequently requested all “on-board assays” might be divided between storage areas 27 and 28 .
- Throughput values like those just described may be achieved because during operation of analyzer 10 by computer 15 , different incoming samples 40 for which different assays are to be performed are partitioned into a number of separate assay groups in accord with the length of time required for the assay to be completed on reaction carousel 14 , disclosed in co-pending application Ser. No. 10/151,424 (Attorney Docket No. DCS-9128) and assigned to the assignee of the present invention.
- Judicious partitioning of assays by time, taken with carefully designed dwell times, number of reaction vessels 24 , and location of assay devices 13 enables a first medium time length assay and a second shorter time length assay to be completed in less than a single operational cycle, thereby increasing the analyzer's 10 volume throughput as compared to conventional analyzers in which a reaction mixture having been analyzed may remain on a reaction carousel for an unproductive time period of inactivity.
- medium length time assays are first completed within a number of reaction vessels 24 ; as each medium length time assay is completed, those reaction vessels 24 are removed from reaction carousel 14 and are replaced by new or cleaned reaction vessels 24 in which shorter length time assays are then completed. Longer length time assays remain on reaction carousel 14 during a full operational cycle.
- a key feature of the present invention is to segment the viewing screen 15 S of display module 15 M so that a significant portion, and preferably, a majority of the viewing screen 15 S displays routine operational information that is used in routine operation of analyzer 10 .
- routine operational information includes, for example, information about entering a sample order, checking on the status of a sample being analyzed, reading sample results, reading a list of the reagent containers 30 and calibration/Quality Control vial containers 30 A needed to be loaded into tray 29 the next day, and the like.
- the viewing screen 15 S displays non-routine or advanced operational information that is used in a detailed examination of information concerning the operation of analyzer 10 .
- Advanced operational information includes, for example, information about which reagent container 30 lot is being used to currently perform each of the different assays analyzer 10 is equipped to perform, the expiration dates of each of the reagent lots, the calibration status of each of the reagent lots, a relative comparison of calibration coefficients between a new and a previous calibration, what are the existing calibration acceptance criteria, and the like.
- FIG. 9 is an example of viewing screen 15 S in which the routine operational information occupies the lower, greater than 90% of screen 15 S, identified as 9 R and this information is easily accessed using only the tab rows 9 B and 9 C at the bottom of screen 15 S and the Home/Back/Forward buttons 9 D.
- FIG. 9 is exemplary of the present invention whereby computer 15 is programmed to structure screen 15 S on an operator specific basis so that a routine user cannot stumble into complexity that they are unable to handle. This structuring has implications in documentation and training programs, and also makes it much easier to train an operator to accomplish the essential functions required to maintain continuous throughput in analyzer 10 , without needing to provide extensive overall operational knowledge.
- routine screens do not require a routine operator to even be aware of the complex, non-routine operational aspects of maintaining throughput of analyzer 10 . If a problem arises, an alert is displayed, and the routine operator is taken where they need to go to resolve the issue, and the tools to accomplish it are close at hand.
- the routine screens display simple information and it is very difficult, if not impossible, to make an error, like destroy the store's inventory by pushing the wrong button.
- FIG. 9D A login/Logout area 9 D may be seen in FIG. 9A where both routine operators and qualified technicians having been trained in non-routine, advanced aspects of operating analyzer 10 may gain access to linked screens after sequentially touching a Personal Information Number in area 9 E. Only a relatively few linked information screens are in 9 C, about 5 in each category in 9 B. Active buttons in area 9 R are touch-activated.
- FIGS. 10-13 described next are only exemplary of the routine operational information that is used in routine operation of analyzer 10 and are not intended to be exhaustive. For convenience reasons only, dashed lines are used in FIGS. 9-13 to indicate areas within screen 15 S.
- FIG. 10 is an example of a Sample Rack Detail screen accessed by touching Sample button 10 A and then Rack Details button 10 B. The status of sample tubes 40 on sample rack 42 is displayed for each sample tube 40 in status display area 10 C.
- FIG. 10 also illustrates another important feature of the present invention being an Instrument Status Summary tab 10 S described later.
- FIG. 11 is an example of a Reagent Needs screen accessed by touching Supplies button 11 A and then Reagents button 11 B.
- the status of reagent carriers 30 within storage areas 26 , 2 , and 28 is displayed for each of the assays currently being processed, for example.
- FIG. 12 is an example of a Sample Rack Colors screen accessed by touching Samples 12 A and then Rack Color Map button 12 B.
- Coloring rack 42 assists in distinguishing sample tubes 40 , as illustrated in the information display area 12 C and also allows an operator to approve aspirating additional sample for storage in environmental chamber 38 for follow on testing.
- Each rack color is designated to hold a particular type of sample tube 40 , fluid type, or used to designate that surplus sampling is allowable.
- All racks 42 have a barcode, and an association between rack color and rack barcode is set up by the operator. So, in effect, computer 15 and the operator both ‘know’” what the color is.
- When the operator loads a tube 40 he is careful to put the correct container/fluid/surplus in the correct rack 42 . It is important that pediatric tubes be distinguished from normal tubes to order to avoid driving probe 66 through the bottom of a pediatric sample tube.
- FIG. 13 is an example of a Sample Results screen accessed by touching Results button 12 A and then Sample Results button 12 B. Information concerning test results for various assays is available in area 13 C for a patient identified in area 13 D.
- FIG. 9 also illustrates how the advanced operational information occupies the remaining, upper, and less than 10% of viewing area of screen 15 S, identified as 9 A.
- Advanced operational information screens generally addressed with a hand-mouse, are accessed using the advanced menu 9 M at the top right.
- the advanced information screens are dense component based screens, which appear in independent windows, not in the content area of the main screen 15 S.
- Advanced information screens include Calibrator and QC setup, database maintenance and administration, diagnostics brought up as a separate task, user administration, method setup, open channels, sample carrier color assignment, reagent auto-preparation configuration, and the like as illustrated in FIGS. 14-17 .
- FIG. 14 illustrates how dense, advanced information is accessed in advanced operational information screens, FIGS. 15-18 , by qualified personnel after conventionally logging in with an approved PIN.
- access to assay-related method information is initiated by activating “Methods 12 A” after which a pop-up menu 12 B appears.
- the qualified person selects CAL in menu 14 B, from which screens containing advanced information are caused to be displayed on screen 15 S by computer 15 .
- FIG. 15 is an example of a screen having densely detailed and advanced information about assay calibration by reagent lot 15 A, including expiration date 15 B and calibration status 15 C. Additional calibration information like which re-calibrations are due soon, or are already on-board analyzer 10 may be obtained by activating the appropriate portion of area 15 D.
- FIG. 16 is an example of a screen having densely detailed and advanced information about assay calibration details, including information about the date a particular method was calibrated by which operator by which type of calibration as seen in area 16 A.
- the actual results of the calibration process may be found in area 16 B covering analyte test results and in area 16 C covering actual calibration signal results.
- This type of advanced information would normally be accessed except by highly qualified personnel, for example in a trouble-shooting activity.
- FIG. 17 is an example of a screen having densely detailed and advanced information about details of a current calibration process as compared to the previously used calibration process, including information about the date a particular method was newly calibrated by which operator by which type of calibration as seen in area 17 A.
- the actual values of the calibration curve coefficients may be found in area 17 B for the new and the older calibration and in area 17 C, actual values for calibration recovery for the new and the older calibration.
- Area 17 D has actual values for calibration recovery for the new and the older calibration. This type of advanced information would rarely and infrequently be accessed, except in unusual circumstances.
- FIG. 18 is an example of a screen having densely detailed and advanced information about details of the calibration acceptance criteria analyzer 10 is using to accept or reject analytical results.
- FIG. 18 includes information about the date the acceptance criteria were activated by which operator for which type of calibration as seen in area 18 A. The actual acceptance criteria may be found in area 18 B and in area 18 C, details of individual acceptance criteria. Again, this type of advanced information would be accessed only by highly qualified personnel for special reasons as it deal with the assay reliability of analyzer 10 .
- FIG. 19 illustrates another important feature of the present invention in which Instrument Status Summary tab 10 S seen in FIG. 9 comprises a “safe” tab area, like a green colored tab area. If all operational systems within analyzer 10 are functioning within normal ranges, the entire Instrument Status Summary tab will be displayed in the “safe color”, green for convenience. If any system within analyzer 10 begins to function outside normal range, “alarm” tab areas like 19 A and 19 B will appear in a special color, like in a red colored tab, within Instrument Status Summary tab 10 S, indicating to an operator that analyzer 10 is not in a fully functional mode of operation.
- a “safe” tab area like a green colored tab area.
- FIG. 19A When an operator observes an “caution” tab area like 19 C, and simply touches “caution” tab area 19 C wherein an indication is provided that cuvette wash station 67 needs to be re-supplied with bulk fluids, computer 15 is programmed to cause a preventive-action tab like 19 G to appear in FIG. 19A , having a highlighted in color or otherwise identified message 19 H identifying exactly what actions need to be taken and completed by when so as to maintain analyzer 10 in a functional state. If the operator is un-certain how to follow the corrective action in preventive-action tab 19 G, he may touch a “Show Me” button 19 H, and a series of cartoons like cartoon 19 J or the like will appear, like seen in FIG. 19B illustrating what steps to take in what order in what portion of analyzer 10 .
- FIG. 23 Another key feature of screen 15 S is an operator's ability to define a personalized set of “Favorite Screens” like seen in FIG. 23 .
- an operator frequently views a screen like Sample Results and wants to eliminate steps to access such information.
- a button 23 A marked “Favorites” By simply touching a button 23 A marked “Favorites”, a hyperlink to the like Sample Results is created to immediately display such a screen and the name of that favorite screen is displayed by name 23 C in a Favorites area 23 B.
Abstract
Description
- This application claims the benefit of priority to Ser. No. 60/488,689 filed Jul. 18, 2003.
- The present invention relates to a method for processing a patient's biological fluids in an automated clinical analyzer. In particular, the present invention provides a method for displaying the status and controlling the operation of such an analyzer on an operator interface in a manner that minimizes effort required by the operator to access pertinent data.
- Automated clinical analyzers are known to improve clinical analysis by providing results more rapidly while minimizing operator or technician error. Due to increasing demands on clinical laboratories regarding assay throughput, and the efficiency of handling patient samples and reagents An important factor is displaying the status and controlling the operation of such an analyzer in a “user friendly” manner that minimizes the effort required by the operator to access pertinent data.
- Automated clinical analyzers are typically controlled by software executed by a computer using software programs written in a machine language like on the Dimension® clinical chemistry analyzer sold by Dade Behring Inc, of Deerfield, Ill., and widely used by those skilled in the art of computer-based electromechanical control programming. Such a computer executes application software programs for performing assays conducted by the analyzer but it is also required to be programmed to control and track, among other items:
-
- whether a reagent container is new and unused;
- calibration and quality control procedures as needed;
- an incoming and outgoing sample tube transport system;
- the patient's identity, the tests to be performed, if a sample aliquot is to be retained within the analyzer;
- the location of sample tubes, sample tube racks, and aliquot vessel arrays;
- a sampling probe;
- inventory and accessibility of sample aliquots within an environmental chamber;
- an aliquot vessel array transport system;
- reagent aspiration and dispense arms including liquid reagent probes;
- cuvette and vessel load stations;
- a
wash station 67; - a container shuttle, reagent carousels, shuttles and trays;
- reagent and assay chemical solution consumption along with time, and date of consumption of all reagents consumed out of each reagent container and assay chemical solutions consumed out of each vial container on a per reagent container, per calibration vial container, per Quality Control container, per assay, and per calibration basis, for specifically defined time periods; and,
- scheduling at least 1000 assays per hour.
- From the above descriptions of the multiple operations conducted within a clinical analyzer, it is apparent that a complex problem to be resolved is how to display to a clinical analyzer operator or to an analyzer technician, on a user interface module, that information pertinent to a given situation, in a “user-friendly” manner.
- U.S. Pat. No. 6,544,476 discloses a display screen having an area for indicating operation function selection buttons corresponding to respective groups of operation functions divided into a plurality of groups and an area for indicating an operation function screen corresponding to selected operation function selection buttons. The controller controls one of the operation function selection buttons, which corresponds to the plurality of groups allowed to access based on the level thus determined, to be accessible and also controls remaining one of the operation function selection buttons, which corresponds to remaining one of the plurality of groups having not been allowed to access, not to be accessible.
- U.S. Pat. No. 6,275,150 discloses a user interface for a biomedical analyzer system that inputs work orders, including sample and test identifications, and transmits instructions to the instrument. The instrument performs the requested tests and sends the results to the computer, where they are stored. The test results are compared to exception review criteria to identify exception test results for operator review. Exception test results are also indicated by a graphic icon on the display of the computer. The exception test results may be compared by an operator to validation data gathered from the instrument and stored in the computer. The operator may then select a disposition for the exception test results. In another aspect of the present invention, alarm conditions are communicated by the instrument to the computer. The user interface then communicates the alarm conditions to an operator by using a graphic image of the instrument and an affected part. Additional information may then be provided to the operator by selecting the affected component.
- U.S. Pat. No. 6,080,364 discloses an automatic analyzer in which a plurality of analytical units are arranged along a transfer line. This analyzer has a display request means for an inspection screen of calibration or accuracy management, a screen display for displaying an inspection screen having a plurality of classification captions installed in correspondence to classification of a plurality of states relating to calibration or accuracy management and an instruction button for instructing display of detailed information corresponding to each classification caption in association with the display request, and a controller for displaying, when an instruction is outputted by the instruction button, the analysis item name of the corresponding state and the analytical unit name for executing calibration or accuracy management of the corresponding analysis item on the inspection screen.
- U.S. Pat. No. 5,885,530 discloses an automated immunoassay system which can perform testing on a broad range of analytes while selecting from among a range of different types of immunoassays using a variety of different types of reagents and immunoassay beads stored on-board the instrument. User interface is reduced as tests are performed automatically from computer input including the ability to order, perform and re-assay tests reflexively based on test results without operator intervention.
- U.S. Pat. No. 5,316,726 discloses a computer controlled analyzer and display. The display provides a real-time presentation of all operations being performed within the analyzer. A large number of samples can be loaded into the analyzer, and the order of testing the samples can be rearranged according to a priority determined by the operator at any time. A variety of immunoassays can be performed on each sample and several different immunoassays can be performed on any one sample. Information related to the type of immunoassays being performed on particular samples is collected by a bar code reader and this information is conveyed to the computer for presentation on the display.
- Japanese Patent Application 1-250758 proposes that an operator is allowed to use only the particular range of an analyzer's function corresponding to a pre-determined level. The operation functions of the automatic analyzer are classified into an analysis parameter, a system parameter, registration and maintenance, and the levels of the operators are set in accordance with identification codes of the respective operators in advance. When an operator inputs the identification code, only the operation function of the operation level corresponding to the inputted identification code is displayed. The levels of the operator are set as three levels of upper, middle and lower levels in a manner that the operator of the upper level is allowed to operate all the operations, the operator of the middle level is allowed to operate a part of the operations, and the operator of the lower level is allowed to operate only a part of the analysis parameter and the maintenance.
- The present invention provides a method to display the status of a clinical analyzer on an operator interface in a manner that minimizes the effort required by the operator to access pertinent data by segmenting such data by function. This is achieved by providing a visual user interface device with a viewing screen that is adapted to display information pertaining to the control and operating status of the analyzer, segmenting the viewing screen so that routine operational information used in routine operation of the analyzer is displayed in a first segment of the viewing screen, and segmenting the viewing screen so that non-routine operational information that is used in a detailed examination of the operation of analyzer is displayed in a second segment of the viewing screen. In addition, an analyzer status summary tab is displayed in a first color if all operational systems within the analyzer are functioning within normal ranges, the color of the analyzer status summary tab is changed to a second color if any system or component within analyzer is beginning to approach a state that would cause analyzer to function outside a normal operating, and the color of the analyzer status summary tab is changed to a third color range if any system or component within analyzer begins to function outside a normal operating range.
- The invention will be more fully understood from the following detailed description thereof taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which form a part of this application and in which:
-
FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of an automated analyzer in which the present invention may be employed to advantage; -
FIG. 2 is an enlarged schematic plan view of a portion of the analyzer ofFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a reagent container useful in the analyzer ofFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 3A is a perspective view of a calibration solution vial container useful in the analyzer ofFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an aliquot vessel array storage and handling unit useful in the analyzer ofFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 4A is a sampling probe useful in the analyzer ofFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 4B is a wash station useful in the analyzer ofFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 5 is an aliquot vessel array useful in the analyzer ofFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view of a container transport system useful in the analyzer ofFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a container shuttle useful in the analyzer ofFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a container tray shuttle useful in the analyzer ofFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 9 is a viewing screen exemplary of the present invention; -
FIG. 9A illustrates access to display screens exemplary of the present invention; -
FIGS. 10-13 are exemplary of routine operational information that is accessible from the screen ofFIG. 9 ; -
FIG. 14 illustrates how non-routine operational information is accessible from the screen ofFIG. 9 ; -
FIGS. 15-18 illustrates non-routine operational information accessible from the screen ofFIG. 9 ; -
FIG. 19 illustrates an Instrument Status Summary exemplary of the present invention; -
FIG. 19A illustrates an Instrument Status Message exemplary of the present invention; -
FIG. 19B illustrates an illustration of instrument maintenance message exemplary of the present invention; -
FIG. 20 illustrates trouble-solving information accessible from the screen ofFIG. 19 ; -
FIGS. 21 and 22 illustrate actions to take based on the trouble-solving information ofFIG. 20 ; and, -
FIG. 23 illustrates a personalized display screen exemplary of the present invention. -
FIG. 1 , taken withFIG. 2 , shows schematically the elements of anautomatic chemical analyzer 10 in which the present invention may be advantageously practiced,analyzer 10 comprising areaction carousel 12 supporting anouter cuvette carousel 14 havingcuvette ports 20 formed therein and aninner cuvette carousel 16 havingvessel ports 22 formed therein, theouter cuvette carousel 14 andinner cuvette carousel 16 being separated by aopen groove 18.Cuvette ports 20 are adapted to receive a plurality ofreaction cuvettes 24 like disclosed in co-pending application Ser. No. 09/949,132 assigned to the assignee of the present invention and containing various reagents and sample liquids for conventional clinical and immunoassay assays whilevessel ports 22 are adapted to receive a plurality ofreaction vessels 25 that contain specialized reagents for ultra-high sensitivity luminescent immunoassays.Reaction carousel 12 is rotatable using stepwise movements in a constant direction, the stepwise movements being separated by a constant dwell time during whichcarousel 12 is maintained stationary and computer controlled assayoperational devices 13, such as sensors, reagent add stations, mixing stations and the like, operate as needed on an assay mixture contained withincuvettes 24 andreaction vessels 25. -
Analyzer 10 is controlled by software executed by thecomputer 15 based on computer programs written in a machine language like that used on the Dimension® clinical chemistry analyzer sold by Dade Behring Inc, of Deerfield, Ill., and widely used by those skilled in the art of computer-based electromechanical control programming.Computer 15 also executes application software programs for performing assays conducted by various analyzing means 17 withinanalyzer 10. Analyzing means 17 may compriseanalytical module 17A adapted to perform photometric assays, compriseanalytical module 17B adapted to perform nephelometric assays, and compriseanalytical module 17C adapted to perform luminescence assays, like disclosed in co-pending application Ser. No. 60/488,336 (Attorney Docket No. DCS-9159) assigned to the assignee of the present invention.Computer 15 is interlinked using known interface software applications with a Laboratory Information System (LIS) and/or a Hospital Information System (HIS) so that information concerning patients, patient assay requests, assay results, analyzer status, and the like, may be immediately accessible as needed by laboratory personnel.Computer 15 includes an operator interface module 15M typically comprising akeyboard 15K and monitor or a flat-paneltouch viewing screen 15S or the like, on which information about the operational status ofanalyzer 10 as described herein may be called up and displayed or which may be automatically displayed like in the instance of a malfunction withinanalyzer 10. - Temperature-controlled
reagent storage areas elongate reagent containers 30 like that illustrated inFIG. 3A and containing reagents necessary to perform a given assay within a number ofwells 32, each well containing as much as 3.4 mL of a given reagent.Container 30 has features to enableanalyzer 10 to automatically determine whether areagent container 30 is new and unused or whether thereagent container 30 has been previously used and possibly become contaminated whenever areagent container 30 is initially placed onto an analyzer.FIG. 3B shows acalibration vial container 30A containing calibration solutions of known analyte concentrations incalibration solution vials 30V, the solutions being to conduct well-know calibration and quality control procedures withinanalyzer 10.Calibration vial containers 30A are also inventoried uponanalyzer 10 withinreagent storage areas - A bi-directional incoming and outgoing sample
tube transport system 36 havinginput lane 34A andoutput lane 34B transports incomingindividual sample tubes 40 containing liquid specimens to be tested and mounted in sample tube racks 42 into the sampling range of aliquid sampling probe 44, like disclosed in co-pending application Ser. No. 10/623,311 assigned to the assignee of the present invention. Liquid specimens contained insample tubes 40 are identified by reading bar coded indicia placed thereon using a conventional bar code reader to determine, among other items, a patient's identity, tests to be performed, if a sample aliquot is to be retained withinanalyzer 10 and if so, for what period of time. It is also common practice to place bar coded indicia on sample tube racks 42 and employ a large number of bar code readers installed throughoutanalyzer 10 to ascertain, control and track the location ofsample tubes 40 and sample tube racks 42. - Sampling
probe 44 comprises a translatableliquid sampling probe 48 so that movement ofsampling arm 44 describes an arc intersecting the sampletube transport system 36 and an aliquot vesselarray transport system 50, as seen inFIG. 4 . Samplingprobe 44, as seen inFIG. 4A , comprises aHorizontal Drive 44H, aVertical Drive 44V, aWash Module 44W, aPump Module 44P and aCleansing Module 44C having the primary functions described in Table 1 below, so that samplingprobe 44 is operable to aspirate liquid sample fromsample tubes 40 and to dispense an aliquot sample into one or more of a plurality ofvessels 52V inaliquot vessel array 52, as seen inFIG. 5 , depending on the quantity of sample required to perform the requisite assays and to also provide for a sample aliquot to be retained byanalyzer 10 withinenvironmental chamber 38.TABLE 1 Module Primary Functions Horizontal Drive 1. Position Vertical Drive 44 V oversample fluid tubes 44 H 40 on a rack 38, overindividual vessels 52 V ofaliquot vessel arrays 52 and overCleansing Module 44 C Vertical Drive 1. Position a sampling probe 44 P atvertical positions 44 V for aspiration and dispense operations 2. Drive probe 44 P through the stopper 40 S of asample fluid tube 403. Determine liquid level of sample fluid in sample tube 40 4. Monitor aspiration quality Wash Module 1. Remove contamination from probe 44 C with liquid44 W cleansing solutions Cleansing 1. Cleansing interior and exterior surfaces of sample Module 44 C fluid probe 44 P Pump Module 2. Aspirate and dispense sample fluid 44 P 3. Wash probe 44P Wash Manifold 1. Connect Wash Module 44 W andPump Module 44 M 44 P to probe 44 P -
Environmental chamber 38 is operated bycomputer 15 to ensure that the same patient specimen is tested a second time following a previous first testing. For reasons of processing efficiency, it is sometimes desirable to automatically reprocess a sample aliquot that has been retained in withinenvironmental chamber 38 for a predetermined period of time. Incoming samples to be tested may be identified by bar coded indicia placed onsample tubes 40 to determine if a sample aliquot is to be retained, and if so, for what period of time. In addition to a first sample aliquot taken from a patient's specimen to be tested, a second sample aliquot is also taken from the same patient's specimen and is retained in withinenvironmental chamber 38. If it becomes desirable to re-test or additionally test a patient's sample some period of time after tests on the first sample aliquot are completed, reported, and analyzed by a physician, the second sample aliquot may be quickly removed from withinenvironmental chamber 38 and tested onanalyzer 10, thereby saving time as well as providing for the exact same patient specimen to be tested. - A conventional ion selective
electron measuring station 47 equipped with a conventional ionselective electron probe 49 may be conveniently located proximate aliquot vesselarray transport system 50 in order to conduct ionic analyte measurements on sample aliquots aspirated fromvessels 52V byprobe 49 and dispensed into the ion selectiveelectron measuring station 47. - Aliquot vessel
array transport system 50 comprises an aliquot vessel array storage and dispensemodule 56 and a number oflinear drive motors 58 adapted to bi-directionally translatealiquot vessel arrays 52 within a number of aliquot vessel array tracks 57 below a sample aspiration and dispensearm 54 locatedproximate reaction carousel 12. Sample aspiration and dispensearm 54 is controlled bycomputer 15 and is adapted to aspirate a controlled amount of sample fromindividual vessels 52V positioned at a sampling location within atrack 57 using aconventional liquid probe 54P and thenliquid probe 54P is shuttled to a dispensing location where an appropriate amount of aspirated sample is dispensed into one ormore cuvettes 24 incuvette ports 20 for testing byanalyzer 10 for one or more analytes. After sample has been dispensed intoreaction cuvettes 24, conventional transfer means movealiquot vessel arrays 52 as required between aliquot vesselarray transport system 50,environmental chamber 38 and a disposal area, not shown. - A number of reagent aspiration and dispense
arms reagent storage areas wells 32 in anappropriate reagent container 30, theprobes reaction cuvettes 24. Probes 60P, 61P and 62P are also used for aspirating calibration and control solutions fromcalibration solution vials 30V as required to conduct calibration and control procedures necessary to ensure proper operation ofanalyzer 10, theprobes reaction cuvettes 24 and analyzed by analyzingmeans 17. - Reaction
cuvette load station 61 and reactionvessel load station 63 are respectively positioned proximateouter cuvette carousel 14 andinner vessel carousel 16 and are adapted to loadreaction cuvettes 24 intocuvette ports 20 sideways as described later andreaction vessels 25 intovessel ports 22 using for example a translatablerobotic arm 65. In operation, usedcuvettes 24 in which an assay has been finally conducted, are washed and dried in awash station 67 like disclosed in co-pending application Ser. No. 10/623,360 assigned to the assignee of the present invention.Computer 15 operateswash station 67 so that a usedreaction cuvette 24 is cleansed so that whenever certain “exceptional” assays are scheduled to be next performed in areaction cuvette 24, the usedreaction cuvette 24 is automatically subjected to an additional cleansing or cleaning operation, the terms “cleaning and cleansing” including washing, rinsing, and drying. This selective cleaning of a usedreaction cuvette 24 is partially achieved by providing a number of washing and dryingmanifolds 67M, like seen inFIG. 4B , each of which is independently selectively activated to perform or not perform a cleansing operation, depending upon the identity of the assay scheduled to be next performed in thatreaction cuvette 24. Further,wash station 67 is operated bycomputer 15 so that biohazard waste residues from biochemical reactions in acuvette 24 are segregated from chemical waste residues from chemical reactions in acuvette 24 and are safely disposed into securebiochemical waste storage 67B andchemical waste storage 67C by means ofvacuum lines 67V. - Subsequent assays are conducted in cleaned used
cuvettes 24 unless dictated otherwise for reasons like disclosed in co-pending application Ser. No. 10/318,804 assigned to the assignee of the present invention.Computer 15 is programmed to determine not to reuse a cleaned usedreaction cuvette 24 whenever an assay scheduled to be next performed in a cleaned usedreaction cuvette 24 might be adversely affected by any contaminants remaining from the assay previously performed in a cleaned usedreaction cuvette 24. In addition,computer 15 may operateanalyzer 10 so that whenever certain assays are scheduled to be next performed in a cleaned usedreaction cuvette 24, the cleaned usedreaction cuvette 24 is automatically removed, discarded, and replaced with a fresh,unused reaction cuvette 24.Computer 15 may optionally controlanalyzer 10 so that whenever an assay is scheduled to be next performed in a cleaned usedreaction cuvette 24, and the same assay was previously performed in the cleaned usedreaction cuvette 24 and the assay results were outside normal test ranges, the cleaned usedreaction cuvette 24 would be automatically removed, discarded, and replaced with a fresh,unused reaction cuvette 24. Cuvette unloadstation 59 is adapted to removeunusable reaction cuvettes 24 fromcuvette ports 20 again using a translatablerobotic arm 65 like seen onload stations - In order to re-supply assay reagents and calibration solutions as they are exhausted by assay demand,
analyzer 10 includes a single, bi-directionallinear container shuttle 72 illustrated inFIG. 6 and adapted to removereagent containers 30 andcalibration vial containers 30A from acontainer loading tray 29 having amotorized rake 73 that automatically locatescontainers container shuttle 72.Shuttle 72 is further adapted to dispose areagent container 30 or acalibration vial container 30A into slots in at least one slottedreagent container tray reagent storage areas shuttle 72 is even further adapted to removereagent containers 30 orcalibration vial containers 30A fromreagent container trays such reagent containers 30 orcalibration vial containers 30A into either of twoconcentric reagent carousels reagent storage area 26.Shuttle 72 is also adapted to movereagent containers 30 andcalibration vial containers 30A between the twoconcentric reagent carousels reagent carousel 26A may be rotated in both directions so as to place any particular one of thereagent containers 30 orcalibration vial containers 30A disposed thereon beneathreagent aspiration arm 60. Althoughreagent carousel 26B may also containreagent containers 30 andcalibration vial containers 30A accessible byreagent aspiration arms carousel 26B is preferably designated only for storing excess inventory ofreagent containers 30 andcalibration vial containers 30A. Any one of thereagent containers 30 disposed inreagent container trays container shuttle 72 or at a reagent aspiration location beneath aspiration and dispensingarms reagent storage areas Reagent aspiration arms reagent containers 30 inventoried incarousel 26B, andreagent container trays Reaction cuvettes 24 supported inouter cuvette carousel 14 are also both shown in dashed lines to indicate that they are positioned above the surfaces ofreagent containers 30.FIG. 6 also shows areagent preparation station 74 connected toreagent operation carousel 26B by means of a first reagentcontainer transfer device 75.Reagent preparation station 74 is adapted to perform a number of reagent preparation operations like chemical additions, re-mixing, hydrating dry reagent powders and the like as may be required. In addition, amotorized belt shuttle 78 connected toreagent operation carousel 26B by means of a second reagentcontainer transfer device 77, thereby enabling an exchange ofreagent containers 30 between similarly equipped analyzers. A container shuttle system like seen inFIG. 6 , is described in co-pending U.S. patent Ser. No. 10/623,310, assigned to the assignee of the present invention. - Container shuttle seen in
FIG. 7 is adapted to automatically compensate for unknown changes in length of adrive belt 72B driven bymotor 72M by an automated tensioner 72T, disclosed in co-pending application Ser. No. 10/623,311 and assigned to the assignee of the present invention, and adapted to maintain a constant tension on thedrive belt 72B regardless of rapid changes in its driving direction so thatreagent containers 30 andcalibration vial containers 30A attached thereto byclamps 72C may be accurately positioned along the direction ofdrive belt 72B, as indicated by the double-ended arrow, and disposed at their intended location beneathreagent container shuttle 72 or withinstorage areas drive belt 72B wears. Reagent container shuttles 27S and 28S are similar in design to one another, and as seen inFIG. 8 , include areagent container tray 28T secured to one leg of adrive belt 28B so thattray 28T is free to be driven to and from along the direction ofdrive belt 28B, as indicated by the double-ended arrow. Consequently,reagent containers 30 within slots intray 28T may be automatically positioned at a pick-up location beneathcontainer shuttle 72. - From the preceding description of
analyzer 10, it is clear to one skilled in the art that the capabilities ofanalyzer 10 under the control ofcomputer 15 include the ability to automatically to movereagent containers 30 andcalibration vial containers 30A betweencontainer loading tray 29,reagent container trays reagent carousels shuttles analyzer 10 is further capable of movingreagent containers 30 and calibration vial containers inreagent container trays probes reagent carousels reagent container 30 orcalibration vial container 30A beneathreagent aspiration arms Analyzer 10 thus includes an automated random access reagent and calibration solution re-supply system with the flexibility to position a large number of different reagents and calibration solutions at different aspiration locations. - A key factor in maintaining an optimum assay throughput within
analyzer 10 is the ability to timely re-supplyreagent containers 30 intoreagent storage areas vial containers 30A before the solutions contained therein become exhausted so that calibration and control procedures may be conducted as required, whether this be based on the basis of time between calibrations or number of assays performed since an immediately previous calibration or number of assay results outside normal ranges, or changes in the performance of the analyzer. This challenge may be met by timely equippinganalyzer 10 with additional requisite calibration and Quality Control solutions used in calibration and control procedures and called standard chemical solutions herein for convenience, before they become exhausted, thereby maintaining assay throughput ofanalyzer 10 uninterrupted. - In order to maintain continuity of assay throughput,
computer 15 is programmed to track reagent and assay chemical solution consumption along with time, and date of consumption of all reagents consumed out of eachreagent container 30 and assay chemical solutions consumed out of eachvial container 30A on a per reagent container, per calibration vial container, per Quality Control container, per assay, and per calibration basis, for specifically defined time periods. As disclosed in co-pending application Ser. No. 10/622,435 and assigned to the assignee of the present invention,computer 15 is programmed to make an inventory demand analysis for specifically defined time periods so as to determine future assay inventory demands for the specifically defined time periods and display to an operator on anoperator interface module 15D, a list of all of thereagent containers 30 and calibration/QualityControl vial containers 30A that will be needed in the future in a timely manner prior to the actual need of saidreagent container 30 and calibration/QualityControl vial containers 30A. - A very simplified illustration of the analysis made by
computer 15 may be found in Table 1, wherein an average assay demand is conducted on Monday, using the most recent historical Tuesday-specific assay demand for the four previous Tuesdays, for Total CO2, Creatinine, and BUN is 1255, 1140, and 1050, respectively. In view of the number of assays that may be conducted in singledifferent reagent containers 30 containing the reagents needed to perform Total CO2, Creatinine, and BUN assays, and considering the on-board inventory of thedifferent reagent containers 30 as indicated, it is clear that oneadditional reagent container 30 for Total CO2 is needed for Tuesday and that twoadditional reagent containers 30 for Creatinine and BUN are needed for Tuesday. This information is displayed on computer display module 15M so that the requisitedifferent reagent containers 30 may be timely supplied intotray 29 of analyzer and shuttled throughoutanalyzer 10 as required by a container transport system like seen inFIG. 6 in order to maintain a continuous throughput withinanalyzer 10.TABLE 2 Additional Assays Per Reagent Reagent Reagent Averaged Containers 30Containers 30Container Assay Assay on Analyzer Needed on 30 Type Demand 10 Analyzer 10540 Total CO2 1255 2 1 450 Creatinine 1140 1 2 480 BUN 1050 1 2 - As known in the art, an analyzer like
analyzer 10 is not limited to the three assays in Table 1, and instead is typically adapted to perform as many as 180-200 different assays, with the reagents required to perform about 50% of these “on-board assays” always on-board analyzer 10 instorage areas analyzer 10, in order to improve assay throughput, thereagent containers 30 containing reagents required to perform all “on-board assays” would be held instorage area 26 while thereagent containers 30 containing reagents required to perform less frequently requested all “on-board assays” might be divided betweenstorage areas computer 15 usingreagent containers 30 held instorage area 26, while about 500 assays per hour may be scheduled bycomputer 15 usingreagent containers 30 held in each ofstorage areas computer 15 is scheduling between 1,250 to 1,500 assays per hour. These assay throughput values do not include about 375 ionic analyte measurements for sodium, potassium and chloride additionally performed by ion selectiveelectron measuring station 47 on about 125 different samples per hour inaliquot vessel wells 52V. - Throughput values like those just described may be achieved because during operation of
analyzer 10 bycomputer 15, differentincoming samples 40 for which different assays are to be performed are partitioned into a number of separate assay groups in accord with the length of time required for the assay to be completed onreaction carousel 14, disclosed in co-pending application Ser. No. 10/151,424 (Attorney Docket No. DCS-9128) and assigned to the assignee of the present invention. Judicious partitioning of assays by time, taken with carefully designed dwell times, number ofreaction vessels 24, and location ofassay devices 13 enables a first medium time length assay and a second shorter time length assay to be completed in less than a single operational cycle, thereby increasing the analyzer's 10 volume throughput as compared to conventional analyzers in which a reaction mixture having been analyzed may remain on a reaction carousel for an unproductive time period of inactivity. In particular, during a single full operational cycle ofreaction carousel 14, medium length time assays are first completed within a number ofreaction vessels 24; as each medium length time assay is completed, thosereaction vessels 24 are removed fromreaction carousel 14 and are replaced by new or cleanedreaction vessels 24 in which shorter length time assays are then completed. Longer length time assays remain onreaction carousel 14 during a full operational cycle. - From the above description of
analyzer 10,computer 15 is required to be programmed to control, among other items: -
-
analytical modules - determine whether a
reagent container 30 is new and unused; - to conduct well-know calibration and quality control procedures as needed;
- incoming and outgoing sample
tube transport system 36; - patient's identity, the tests to be performed, if a sample aliquot is to be retained within
analyzer 10; - control and track the location of
sample tubes 40, sample tube racks 42, andaliquot vessel arrays 52; - operation of
sampling probe 44; - inventory and accessibility of sample aliquots within
environmental chamber 38; - ion
selective electron probe 49 and ion selectiveelectron measuring station 47; - aliquot vessel
array transport system 50; - reagent aspiration and dispense
arms - reaction
cuvette load station 61 and reactionvessel load station 63; - wash
station 67; -
linear container shuttle 72,reagent carousels reagent container trays - tracking reagent and assay chemical solution consumption along with time, and date of consumption of all reagents consumed out of each
reagent container 30 and assay chemical solutions consumed out of eachvial container 30A on a per reagent container, per calibration vial container, per Quality Control container, per assay, and per calibration basis, for specifically defined time periods; and, - scheduling between 1,250 to 1,500 assays per hour.
-
- Clearly, from the above descriptions of the multiple operations conducted within
analyzer 10 as controlled bycomputer 15, it is apparent that a complex problem to be resolved is how to display to a clinical laboratory operator or to an analyzer technician on display module 15M, that information pertinent to a given situation, in a “user-friendly” manner. - A key feature of the present invention is to segment the
viewing screen 15S of display module 15M so that a significant portion, and preferably, a majority of theviewing screen 15S displays routine operational information that is used in routine operation ofanalyzer 10. In the preferred embodiment shown, at least 90% of theviewing screen 15S displays routine operational information that is used in routine operation ofanalyzer 10. Routine operational information includes, for example, information about entering a sample order, checking on the status of a sample being analyzed, reading sample results, reading a list of thereagent containers 30 and calibration/QualityControl vial containers 30A needed to be loaded intotray 29 the next day, and the like. In contrast, less than 10% of theviewing screen 15S displays non-routine or advanced operational information that is used in a detailed examination of information concerning the operation ofanalyzer 10. Advanced operational information includes, for example, information about whichreagent container 30 lot is being used to currently perform each of thedifferent assays analyzer 10 is equipped to perform, the expiration dates of each of the reagent lots, the calibration status of each of the reagent lots, a relative comparison of calibration coefficients between a new and a previous calibration, what are the existing calibration acceptance criteria, and the like. -
FIG. 9 is an example ofviewing screen 15S in which the routine operational information occupies the lower, greater than 90% ofscreen 15S, identified as 9R and this information is easily accessed using only thetab rows screen 15S and the Home/Back/Forward buttons 9D.FIG. 9 is exemplary of the present invention wherebycomputer 15 is programmed to structurescreen 15S on an operator specific basis so that a routine user cannot stumble into complexity that they are unable to handle. This structuring has implications in documentation and training programs, and also makes it much easier to train an operator to accomplish the essential functions required to maintain continuous throughput inanalyzer 10, without needing to provide extensive overall operational knowledge. In contrast, prior art systems have been structured “by function”, in which for example, all the complexity of calibration, is displayed in the same screen space. The routine operator was faced with the same functions available to the highly qualified and trained operator but did not have the training to address those issues. The routine screens exemplary of the present invention do not require a routine operator to even be aware of the complex, non-routine operational aspects of maintaining throughput ofanalyzer 10. If a problem arises, an alert is displayed, and the routine operator is taken where they need to go to resolve the issue, and the tools to accomplish it are close at hand. The routine screens display simple information and it is very difficult, if not impossible, to make an error, like destroy the store's inventory by pushing the wrong button. There is an advanced mode interface, which is available to highly trained and qualified technicians knowledgeable in the all of the non-routine aspects of a clinical chemistry system. A login/Logout area 9D may be seen inFIG. 9A where both routine operators and qualified technicians having been trained in non-routine, advanced aspects of operatinganalyzer 10 may gain access to linked screens after sequentially touching a Personal Information Number inarea 9E. Only a relatively few linked information screens are in 9C, about 5 in each category in 9B. Active buttons inarea 9R are touch-activated.FIGS. 10-13 described next are only exemplary of the routine operational information that is used in routine operation ofanalyzer 10 and are not intended to be exhaustive. For convenience reasons only, dashed lines are used inFIGS. 9-13 to indicate areas withinscreen 15S. -
FIG. 10 is an example of a Sample Rack Detail screen accessed by touchingSample button 10A and thenRack Details button 10B. The status ofsample tubes 40 onsample rack 42 is displayed for eachsample tube 40 instatus display area 10C.FIG. 10 also illustrates another important feature of the present invention being an InstrumentStatus Summary tab 10S described later. -
FIG. 11 is an example of a Reagent Needs screen accessed by touchingSupplies button 11A and thenReagents button 11B. The status ofreagent carriers 30 withinstorage areas -
FIG. 12 is an example of a Sample Rack Colors screen accessed by touchingSamples 12A and then RackColor Map button 12B.Coloring rack 42 assists in distinguishingsample tubes 40, as illustrated in theinformation display area 12C and also allows an operator to approve aspirating additional sample for storage inenvironmental chamber 38 for follow on testing. Each rack color is designated to hold a particular type ofsample tube 40, fluid type, or used to designate that surplus sampling is allowable. Allracks 42 have a barcode, and an association between rack color and rack barcode is set up by the operator. So, in effect,computer 15 and the operator both ‘know’” what the color is. When the operator loads atube 40, he is careful to put the correct container/fluid/surplus in thecorrect rack 42. It is important that pediatric tubes be distinguished from normal tubes to order to avoid driving probe 66 through the bottom of a pediatric sample tube. -
FIG. 13 is an example of a Sample Results screen accessed by touchingResults button 12A and thenSample Results button 12B. Information concerning test results for various assays is available inarea 13C for a patient identified inarea 13D. -
FIG. 9 also illustrates how the advanced operational information occupies the remaining, upper, and less than 10% of viewing area ofscreen 15S, identified as 9A. Advanced operational information screens, generally addressed with a hand-mouse, are accessed using theadvanced menu 9M at the top right. The advanced information screens are dense component based screens, which appear in independent windows, not in the content area of themain screen 15S. Advanced information screens include Calibrator and QC setup, database maintenance and administration, diagnostics brought up as a separate task, user administration, method setup, open channels, sample carrier color assignment, reagent auto-preparation configuration, and the like as illustrated inFIGS. 14-17 . -
FIG. 14 illustrates how dense, advanced information is accessed in advanced operational information screens,FIGS. 15-18 , by qualified personnel after conventionally logging in with an approved PIN. Using a mouse or keyboard, due to the smallness ofmenu 9M, access to assay-related method information is initiated by activating “Methods 12A” after which a pop-upmenu 12B appears. - To obtain advanced information about calibration, for example, the qualified person selects CAL in
menu 14B, from which screens containing advanced information are caused to be displayed onscreen 15S bycomputer 15. -
FIG. 15 is an example of a screen having densely detailed and advanced information about assay calibration byreagent lot 15A, includingexpiration date 15B andcalibration status 15C. Additional calibration information like which re-calibrations are due soon, or are already on-board analyzer 10 may be obtained by activating the appropriate portion ofarea 15D. -
FIG. 16 is an example of a screen having densely detailed and advanced information about assay calibration details, including information about the date a particular method was calibrated by which operator by which type of calibration as seen inarea 16A. The actual results of the calibration process may be found inarea 16B covering analyte test results and inarea 16C covering actual calibration signal results. This type of advanced information would normally be accessed except by highly qualified personnel, for example in a trouble-shooting activity. -
FIG. 17 is an example of a screen having densely detailed and advanced information about details of a current calibration process as compared to the previously used calibration process, including information about the date a particular method was newly calibrated by which operator by which type of calibration as seen inarea 17A. The actual values of the calibration curve coefficients may be found inarea 17B for the new and the older calibration and inarea 17C, actual values for calibration recovery for the new and the older calibration.Area 17D has actual values for calibration recovery for the new and the older calibration. This type of advanced information would rarely and infrequently be accessed, except in unusual circumstances. -
FIG. 18 is an example of a screen having densely detailed and advanced information about details of the calibration acceptance criteria analyzer 10 is using to accept or reject analytical results.FIG. 18 includes information about the date the acceptance criteria were activated by which operator for which type of calibration as seen inarea 18A. The actual acceptance criteria may be found in area 18B and inarea 18C, details of individual acceptance criteria. Again, this type of advanced information would be accessed only by highly qualified personnel for special reasons as it deal with the assay reliability ofanalyzer 10. -
FIG. 19 illustrates another important feature of the present invention in which InstrumentStatus Summary tab 10S seen inFIG. 9 comprises a “safe” tab area, like a green colored tab area. If all operational systems withinanalyzer 10 are functioning within normal ranges, the entire Instrument Status Summary tab will be displayed in the “safe color”, green for convenience. If any system withinanalyzer 10 begins to function outside normal range, “alarm” tab areas like 19A and 19B will appear in a special color, like in a red colored tab, within InstrumentStatus Summary tab 10S, indicating to an operator that analyzer 10 is not in a fully functional mode of operation. When an operator observes an “alarm” tab areas like 19A and 19B, and simply touches, for example, “alarm”tab area 19B wherein an indication is provided that it is the ion selectiveelectron measuring station 47 which is non-functional,computer 15 is programmed to cause a trouble-shooting tab like 19D to appear, having a highlighted in color or otherwise non-functional identifiedmessage 19E identifying exactly what portion of the measuringstation 47 is non-functional, optionally also including a message identifying exactly what portions of the measuringstation 47 remain functional inmessage 19F. If the operator then touches non-functional identifiedmessage 19E, a trouble-solvingtab 20A like seen inFIG. 20 will appear, explaining to the operator what steps to take to correct the problem and restore measuringstation 47 to a fully functional state. If the operator is un-certain how to follow the corrective action in trouble-solvingtab 20A, he may touch a “Show Me”button 20B, and a series of cartoons 21A or the like will appear, like seen inFIGS. 21 and 22 , illustrating what steps to take in what order in what portion ofanalyzer 10. In a similar manner, If any system withinanalyzer 10 is beginning to approach a state that would causeanalyzer 10 to function outside normal range, a “caution” tab areas like 19C will appear in a special color, like in a yellow colored tab, within InstrumentStatus Summary tab 10S, indicating to an operator that unless certain preventative steps are taken,analyzer 10 will move to an non-functional mode of operation in the near future. When an operator observes an “caution” tab area like 19C, and simply touches “caution”tab area 19C wherein an indication is provided thatcuvette wash station 67 needs to be re-supplied with bulk fluids,computer 15 is programmed to cause a preventive-action tab like 19G to appear inFIG. 19A , having a highlighted in color or otherwise identifiedmessage 19H identifying exactly what actions need to be taken and completed by when so as to maintainanalyzer 10 in a functional state. If the operator is un-certain how to follow the corrective action in preventive-action tab 19G, he may touch a “Show Me”button 19H, and a series of cartoons likecartoon 19J or the like will appear, like seen inFIG. 19B illustrating what steps to take in what order in what portion ofanalyzer 10. - Another key feature of
screen 15S is an operator's ability to define a personalized set of “Favorite Screens” like seen inFIG. 23 . Consider that an operator frequently views a screen like Sample Results and wants to eliminate steps to access such information. By simply touching a button 23A marked “Favorites”, a hyperlink to the like Sample Results is created to immediately display such a screen and the name of that favorite screen is displayed by name 23C in a Favorites area 23B. - It will be appreciated by those skilled in that art that a number of variations may be made in the above described method and still achieve the essence of the present invention. For these reasons, the present invention is not limited to those embodiments precisely shown and described in the specification but only by the claims.
Claims (10)
Priority Applications (4)
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PCT/US2004/022881 WO2005008218A2 (en) | 2003-07-18 | 2004-07-15 | Operator interface module segmented by function in an automatic clinical analyzer |
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Also Published As
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WO2005008218A3 (en) | 2005-10-27 |
US7185288B2 (en) | 2007-02-27 |
JP2007524083A (en) | 2007-08-23 |
EP1649351A2 (en) | 2006-04-26 |
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